Client feedback

“Mark Fletcher - excellent independent trustee, personality and high standards.”

Sukhjit Dhillon ,

RATP

“The team provide an excellent service with practical and commercial input that we have not found with anyone else.”

Mark Culwick,

Binding Site

“I enjoy working with PSGS and we have a very positive relationship. I was new to pensions and found them very helpful.”

Bruce Allison,

RTUK

“Brilliant to work with - inspiring confidence that risks are anticipated and well-managed, and adding huge value by sharing expertise and best practice.”

Mark Berry,

RM

“Alex is the first professional trustee we have had and has revolutionised the way they look at things - helped above and beyond.”

Angela Clayton,

Accent Group

“PSGS was chosen because of their knowledge of the subject and awareness of our particular schemes.”

George Batho ,

Trustee, Lansing Linde

BCP performance during the pandemic

Topic:

PSGS news

Date published:

Monday, 21 September 2020

Laptops had been rolled out to all employees in 2019 to replace older, desk-bound PCs. Many of our team already regularly worked from home but, a few days before the lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister, all staff were instructed to take laptops home to test they were working correctly.

The decision to introduce 100% mobile computing was partly based on the belief that if our staff had the ability to work from anywhere, they would become even more flexible and productive. It was also based on business logic: with an ever-expanding number of small offices across Punter Southall, it was cheaper and easier to have equipment that could be moved around easily and supported remotely. With security built into the design, staff and clients are assured information remains secure.

As well as the new laptops, during 2019 we also installed commercial-grade Wi-Fi networks at each office. This meant when staff took their laptops home in March, they were able to connect to their home broadband and securely access and use our systems exactly as they were used to doing in the office. This decision to move to mobile working proved invaluable, enabling our business to continue at normal operations during the forced transition from office to home working due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Extra IT equipment, such as additional monitors and headsets, were quickly supplied to staff at home and, as we had already outsourced engineering, fully configured laptops could be delivered directly to an individual’s home address where a replacement was required or a new team member had joined. A COVID-secure induction process was designed and successfully implemented.

The Microsoft Teams platform had been introduced as part of the transition to Office 365 when the new laptops were rolled out in 2019. We extended the functionality available within Teams to enable external video conferencing on this platform in addition to Skype for Business, giving us multiple options to continue with secure client meetings. Training was given to all staff with one-to-one support available if needed.

As a business, we pride ourselves on the way we share ideas and experience across the PSGS team and this has not stopped during the pandemic crisis. We use Teams to share information and ideas via our internal ‘hub’ and meet regularly as a business via video conference.

The PSGS Management Board continue to monitor the situation and have plans in place that flex as needed in these ever-changing circumstances to ensure our staff and clients remain protected.

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